Jesus warned, “Not everyone
who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does
the will of My Father in heaven” ( Matthew 7:21).Jesus warned again, “And in vain they
worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men” (Matthew
15:9).Satan has tricked many people
into thinking that any form of religion is pleasing to God.That is simply not true.

Satan’s Propaganda

Many people have fallen for Satan’s
propaganda.He has deceived countless
souls with catchy slogans like Just be sincere and Attend the church
of your choice.People fail to
understand that they must attend the church of Jesus’ choice.Jesus warned, “Many will say to Me in that
day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name,
and done many wonders in Your name?’And
then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who
practice lawlessness!” (Matthew 7:22,23).This Bible warning is crystal clear, yet many people ignore it.They put their faith in Satan’s slogans and
trust his word.They believe that all
they have to do is just be sincere and attend the church of their
choice.These people are victims of
Satan’s propaganda.

God does require us to be sincere, but He
also requires us to be doctrinally correct.Jesus referred to doctrinal correctness in the warning of Matthew
7:21-23 when he said, “...but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.” Those who enter heaven are those who actually
do the will of the Father.Just because
people prophesy, cast out demons, and work wonders in the name of Jesus does
not prove that they are pleasing the Father.To please God we must do His will without adding to it or taking away
from it (Galatians 1:6-9; 3:15; II Thessalonians 2:15; Revelation 22:18,19).People who make or accept changes to the
Bible are not doing the will of God.They are doing the will of whoever made the changes.Ultimately they are victims of Satan’s
deceit.Sadly, mostof them won’t realize their tragic mistake
until it is too late.

Who Do We Aim to Please?

In our effort to restore New Testament
Christianity and develop unity, we focus upon pleasing God first.If we stand together but remain in error,
then we have failed.Our practice must
first please God.Unfortunately, many
have changed their focus to pleasing man.Their assemblies are designed to entertain the audience.This strategy gains the quick approval of
most people, but it does not gain God’s approval.

The church at Sardis was a church that had
the approval of men, but Jesus told them, “I know your works, that you have
a name that you are alive, but you are dead” (Revelation 3:1).Men praised the church of Sardis.They thought that the church of Sardis was on
fire for God, but Jesus condemned them. The church at Sardis had forgotten that man’s
approval does not assure that God will also be pleased.To please God we must practice what His Word
reveals, not what pleases men (See also Lev. 10:1-3).

The Greatest Respect

When we worship God the way He said, then
we are showing Him our love.Our total
surrender is an expression of our love, loyalty, and respect.Jesus taught, “If you love Me, keep My
commandments” (John 14:15, see also John 14:21,23; 15:10,14).When we leave things exactly the way He
designed, that is when we love and honor God the most.

Men are being arrogant when they think
that they can improve on God’s design.They are also being disrespectful and unloving.Yet, Satan has somehow convinced many people
that they can ignore the Bible and change Christianity in any way they want to
suit themselves (Galatians 1:6-9; 3:15; Revelation 22:18,19).Some are so arrogant that they claim to know
that God’s wanted certain changes made, but Paul taught, “For what man knows
the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in Him?Even so no one knows the things of God except
the Spirit of God” (I Corinthians 2:11).It is interesting to note that all of those who claim to know the mind
of God, they don’t agree among themselves about what God wants.Obviously, someone is wrong.

Instead of trying to find a special
message amidst all the contradictoryclaims of these false prophets, we have chosen to stick with the written
word.If God has not authorized a
particular practice through His written Word, then we don’t presume to practice
it.We conform ourselves to God’s word,
we don’t change the word to conform to us.We encourage the attitude of David when he said, “Keep back your
servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me.Then I shall be blameless, and I shall be
innocent of great transgression” (Psalm 19:13, see also Numbers 15:30;
Deuteronomy 17:12,13; 18:20).

New Testament Worship

When we restore worship to its original
elements, the result is a simple religious service.Our worship service only has five elements:
prayer, preaching, giving, the Lord’s Supper, and singing.When this simple worship is compared to the
big programs that many churches have today, then some people think that we are
a little different, and that’s OK.We
don’t mind if some folks think we are different as long as we are building on a
solid book, chapter, and verse foundation.We gladly invite others to come be different
with us.

Let’s briefly consider each of the five
elements and also look at some changes that men have made over the years.Keep in mind that our goal is to build on a
solid book, chapter, and verse foundation.We want to be loyal and true to the Word of
God.We are not interested in defending
pet ideas, family traditions, or denominational practices.We want to be sure of heaven.We don’t want to take chances with our
eternity, your eternity, or the eternity of our loved ones.

Prayer

Christians are to pray in everything.Paul said, “Be anxious for nothing, but in
everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be
made known to God” (Philippians 4:6,7).Paul also taught that Christians are to pray for everyone, “Therefore
I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of
thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority that we may
lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence.For this is good and acceptable in the sight
of God our Savior” (I Timothy 2:1-3).

This simple pattern of prayer has been
twisted and changed by man over the years.Some teach that people should pray for great wealth and riches even
though James said, “You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that
you may spend it on your pleasures” (James 4:3).They ignore James 4:3 and tell their members
to pray for money, worldly possessions, and material pleasures.This kind of praying is wrong.It goes far beyond what Jesus taught when he
told us to pray, “give us this day our daily bread” (Matthew 6:11).

Some groups teach their members to use
ritualistic repetitions even though Jesus said, “And when you pray, do not
use vain repetitions as the heathen do.For they think that they will be heard for their many words”(Matthew 6:7).

Some religious groups actually teach their
members to pray to the dead even though the Bible says, “For there is one
God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus” (I Timothy
2:5).

Making changes to prayer is wrong.In our effort to build on a solid book,
chapter, and verse foundation we reject all forms and practices in prayer
that cannot be clearly verified by the Bible.We simply will not gamble with our eternity and the eternity of our
loved ones.We won’t gamble with your
eternity either.

Preaching

“Preach the word! Be ready in season
and out of season.Convince, rebuke,
exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching”(II Timothy 4:2).When we
look in the Bible we see that preaching is a time of serious teaching.It is a time to boldly proclaim the
truth.That kind of preaching is often
unpopular.Stephen was killed because of
that kind of preaching (Acts 7:54-60).

The simple pattern of Bible preaching has
been changed by many. Some groups have made women preachers even though God
said, “I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man, but
to be in silence” (I Timothy 2:12).

Some have changed the Bible pattern by
requiring their preachers be single. Paul warned us about this when he said, “Now
the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith,
giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, speaking lies in
hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron, forbidding to
marry, and commanding to abstain from foods which God created to be received
with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth” (I Timothy
4:1-3).

Some religious groups allow politicians to
deliver political speeches during the worship service while others use the
worship service to entertain the audience with musical programs and plays.They do all these things never realizing that
they are the fulfillment of prophecy.Paul said the day would come when people, “...will not endure sound
doctrine, but according to their own desire, because they have itching ears,
they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away
from the truth, and be turned aside to fables” (II Timothy 4:3,4).

Making changes to God’s design is
wrong.We do not wish anyone any harm,
but we cannot give them a nod of approval when they are in direct and obvious
violation of Bible teachings.The apostle
John wrote, “ Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of
Christ does not have God.He who abides
in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son.If anyone comes to you and does not bring
this doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet him; for he who
greets him shares in his evil deeds” (II John 9-11).When people make changes such as these, then
they force us to choose between them and God.We choose God.

Giving

“Now concerning the collection for the
saints… On the first day of the week let each one of you lay something aside, storing
up as he may prosper, that there be no collections when I come” (I Corinthians 16:1,2).

“Even so the Lord has commanded that
those who preach the gospel should live from the gospel” (I Corinthians
9:14).

“But this I say: He who sows sparingly
will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap
bountifully.So let each one give as he
purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful
giver” (II Corinthians 9:6,7).

In the Bible a collection was taken on the
first day of the week.This collection
served two purposes.It was used to help
Christians that were in need and to support teaching.No other uses for the collection are
authorized.This simple Bible pattern
has also been changed by man over the years.

For example, the New Testament does not
have a tithe system like the Old Testament.No man today has the right to set an amount that another person should
give.In the New Testament the amount of
your contribution is between you and God based on your individual ability.Some people don’t like this aspect of the New
Testament and have changed it by adding a tithe system.This is wrong.

Some religious groups have changed God’s
simple pattern by using high pressure techniques that badger members into
giving more and more.Some groups
organize fund raising events, sales, carnivals, and other promotions to get
more and more money out of their members.The New Testament says nothing at all about such methods.These things have been added and violate the
Bible pattern.Paul wrote, “Brethren,
I speak in the manner of men: Though it is only a man’s
covenant, yet if it is confirmed, no one annuls or adds to it”(Galatians 3:15).John wrote, “For I testify to everyone who
hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to these things,
God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; and if anyone
takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his
part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are
written I this book” (Revelation 22:18,19).In our effort to speak where the Bible speaks and remain silent where
the Bible is silent, we follow only the practice of a voluntary contribution as
recorded in the New Testament.

The Bible only mentions using the
collection to help needy saints and to support teaching the Gospel.Many groups today have added other
expenditures to God’s design.Great
amounts of money are spent on entertainment and recreational facilities,
equipment, and events.Adding these
things to God’s pattern is wrong.These
are not authorized by the Bible and therefore constitute a misappropriation of
funds.In our effort to be true to the
Bible pattern, we use the Lord’s money for only the two purposes recorded in
the New Testament.Our members, of
course, are free to spend their own money as they desire.

Lord’s Supper

“And He took bread, gave thanks and
broke it, and gave it to them, saying, ‘This is My body which is given for you;
do this in remembrance of Me.”Likewise
He also took the cup after supper, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in My
blood, which is shed for you”(Luke
22:19,20).

“Now, on the first day of the week,
when the disciples cametogether to
break bread…” (Acts 20:7).

In Bible times Christians met on Sunday to
observe the Lord’s Supper.This practice
has also been changed over the years.Today, many groups have reduced their observance of the Lord’s Supper to
a quarterly, semi annual, or even an annual event (It’s interesting to note
that they have not reduced taking the collection to a quarterly event).

Some groups have abandoned the Bible
pattern and changed the day on which they partake of the Lord’s Supper.Some observe it on multiple days throughout
the week.

Some groups do not let all their members
partake but rather regulate which members can partake of the Lord’s
Supper.The Bible says absolutely
nothing about such a selective system for observing the Lord’s Supper.

Some groups, though few in number, have
gone to such extremes that they have actually changed the elements of the
Lord’s Supper.They no longer use the
fruit of the vine and unleavened bread.They think themselves to be enlightened but actually they are condemned
(Galatians 1:6-9; 3:15; II Thessalonian 2:15; Revelation 22:18,19).

These changes are wrong and we reject
them.Our desire is to respect the
simplicity of the Gospel and observe the Lord’s Supper in the humble manner
revealed in the Bible.

Singing

“Speaking to one another in psalms and
hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord”
(Ephesians 5:19).

“Therefore by Him let us continually
offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving
thanks to His name”(Hebrews 13:15).

In the New Testament and for over 600
years to follow, Christians sang a cappella.Musical instruments were not added to Christian worship services
until sometime around 650 AD.Man grew discontent
and refused to respect the pattern set by the apostle (II Thessalonians
2:15).They chose to indulge their own
desires and added instrumental music.

Many modern groups focus more on
entertaining the audience than worshipping God in their singing.Quartets, choirs, and other groups put on a
show to keep the audience entertained.Some modern churches spend thousands and thousands of dollars on musical
instruments, special sounds systems, and special theatre type lighting.Some of their members use the church as a
stepping stone to a career in secular (non-religious) music.They go from singing praises to singing about
things that real Christians would flee (II Timothy 2:22).

When we look to the New Testament seeking
authority for these modern changes, we find none.We find no such use of instrumental music and
entertainment recorded in the New Testament.These additions are a direct violation of Galatians 3:15 and Revelation
22:18,19 (these two verses are given on page 9 of this booklet).

The error of adding instrumental music to
Christian worship is easily seen when we read II Thessalonians 2:15, where Paul
said, “Therefore, brethren, stand fast and hold the traditions which you
were taught, whether by word or our epistle.”The point is simple.Christianity began a cappella.It remained a cappella for several hundred years.Paul told us to hold the traditions that we
had received.One of those traditions
was singing a cappella.If we
follow Paul’s teaching, then a cappella is the choice we will make.If we are truly interested in restoring New
Testament Christianity, then a cappella is the choice we will make.

Returning to a cappella singing is
one of the most difficult changes for many people to make.They want their musical instruments.They want their entertainment.They forget that worship was designed by God
to please God, not to please man.Our
duty is to offer to God what God has asked for, not what we presume He would
like.Making changes in God’s design for
worship is wrong (see Leviticus 10:1-3).

In our search for common ground we have
chosen to stand as squarely upon the scriptures as we can.This means returning to the original a
cappella way of singing.We will not
take a risk with our eternity and the eternity of our loved ones by allowing a
man-made change into our worship service.We won’t take a risk with your eternity either.

The Popular Choice

Sadly, most people will refuse to give up the
various man-made changes that have crept into religion.Most people find much pleasure in these
changes.Consequently, they insist on
worshipping God in the manner that pleases themselves.

We have chosen to eliminate the man-made
changes.We practice only those things
that are authorized by the Bible.This
means that we are different from most modern day religious groups.However, our desire is not to be like modern
groups, but rather, to be the church that Jesus built.We want to be certain that we are heaven
bound.

YOU
ARE INVITED

Come visit with us, look us over, and ask any
questions that you have about the church of Christ.

Sunday
9:00 A.M. Bible Study

Sunday
10:00 A.M. & 5:00 P.M. Worship Service

Wednesday 7:00 P.M. Bible Study

If
you prefer, you may write or call, and ask us any question that
you have.Mail your questions to: